Heisman winner committed to A’s: agent
His predecessor as the Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner may be succeeding in the NFL, but Kyler Murray won’t follow Baker Mayfield there, according to his agent.
“Kyler has agreed and the (Oakland) A’s agreed to a baseball contract that gave him permission to play college football through the end of the collegiate season,” Scott Boras told NFL Network. “After that, he is under contract to play baseball. That is not a determination to make. It’s already done.”
It’s certainly best in terms of money, longevity and certainty with Murray’s status as a firstround NFL draft pick up for debate. The ninth overall selection by the Oakland A’s in the MLB draft, Murray, who is generously listed at five-foot-10, signed a US$4.66 million contract, but couched his options leading up to Saturday night’s Heisman ceremony.
“I’d like to do both, if possible,” Murray said, “but I don’t know how possible that is.”
However, Boras told NFL Network that “from a contractual perspective, it is set.”
He echoed that in an interview with ESPN, saying: “In good faith, that organization did something very unique. Never done before. So (Murray) is going to reward the Oakland A’s and their owners, fans, by executing the agreement to its truest intent and now continue his baseball career.”
In 51 games at Oklahoma, the outfielder hit .296 with 10 home runs, driving in 47 runs and stealing 10 bases. First, though, is the College Football Playoff with Oklahoma facing Alabama Dec. 29. After that, he’ll head for spring training and see what the NFL draft options are. This season, Murray became the first player in FBS history to average 300 yards passing and 60 yards rushing.
“I feel like I could play in the NFL, but as far as giving it up, as of now, yeah, that’s the plan,” Murray told ESPN last week. Later, however, he told ESPN’s Tim Tebow he and his family would “weigh out the options of what the NFL thinks of me. Right now, my future is already kind of planned out.”